On September 21, 2005 the Chicago District Office of the EEOC filed this suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiff sued Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plaintiffs, representing Hispanic and ...
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On September 21, 2005 the Chicago District Office of the EEOC filed this suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiff sued Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plaintiffs, representing Hispanic and African American employees of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC, asked the court for injunctive and monetary relief. The plaintiff claimed that African American and Hispanic employees were subjected to different terms and conditions of employment and were subjected to a hostile work environment because of their race and national origin. The plaintiff also alleged that one employee was discharged in retaliation for complaining about the discrimination.

On August 21st, 2006, the plaintiffs and defendants jointly moved for a protective order to maintain confidentiality over certain information and documents. On September 6, 2006, Judge Joan B. Gottschall entered the agreed protective order. Specifically, the order stated information and documents such as wage, financial, or tax information; social security numbers; physical and mental health information; trade secrets; performance evaluations; employee complaints; proprietary business processes and procedures; and defendant's affirmative action plans were to remain confidential.

Between 2007 and 2008 the parties conducted multiple settlement conferences. On April 4, 2008, both parties consented to transferring the case to Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys. On April 9, 2008, Chief Judge James F. Holderman signed an Executive Committee Order transferring the case to Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys.

On May 21, 2008 the Honorable Arlander Keys signed a consent decree. The decree included injunctive and monetary relief. The injunctive relief enjoined the defendant from discriminating against employees on the basis of race; required the defendant to create a policy prohibiting discrimination in the workplace; and required posting, record keeping, and training. The monetary relief totaled $425,000 to be distributed among 17 class members.